34th Area Support Group
The 34th Support Group's responsibilities include installation base operations and support to all units in Area II, some twenty-two installations/sub installations with a supported population in excess of 23,000 personnel. Yongsan serves as the entertainment hub for the peninsula with thousands of U.S. Military and civilian personnel coming to The Dragon Hill Lodge, 121st General Hospital, Yongsan Commissary, Army and Air Force Exchange Service facilities, as well as the numerous Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities provided.
The 34TH Support Group and Area II includes Yongsan Garrison, Camp Colbern, K-16 Airfield, Niblo Barracks, Madison Site, FED Compound, Camp Gray Annex, Camp Market, Camp Morse, Sungnam Golf Course, Tango, Kimpo Postal Facilities, Koryosan ASA, EUSA Retreat Center, and Yongin.
Yongsan Garrison is located in the heart of the capitol city of Seoul, South Korea. Although Seoul boasts a population of over 11-million Yongsan Garrison enjoys the life-style of a suburb of a small city. Yongsan Garrison is home to the quad-headquarters of the United Nations Command, US-ROK Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea and the Eighth United States Army. In addition, over 100 tenant units to include all headquarters for the Major Subordinate Units are located in Yongsan.
At the end of World War II, the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) took surrender of Japanese forces south of the 38th Parallel and elements of this command occupied portions of what is now Yongsan Garrison. On July 1, 1949, only a handful of U.S. military personnel remained in Korea as an advisory group to the Republic of Korea Army.
At the outbreak of the Korean War on June 25, 1950, President Harry S. Truman committed Army, Naval and Air forces to thwart the North Korean invasion of the Republic. On July 27, 1953 an Armistice was signed. Yongsan Garrison became the headquarters location for Headquarters, 8th Army in the Spring of 1955. On July 1, 1957, Headquarters, United Nations Command relocated from Tokyo to Seoul with the concurrent establishment of the United States Forces, Korea, which were co-located at Yongsan.
The 34th Support Group was originally activated in the Republic of Vietnam on January 24, 1966. It was initially established as a General Support Group (Aircraft Maintenance and Support) (Provisional) in December 1965 at Saigon. Upon activation, the 34th Support Group was stationed at Tan Son Nhut. The 34th Support Group participated in 15 campaigns and received five Meritorious Unit Commendations, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry and the Vietnam Civic Action Medal during the six years of combat support to U.S. Forces in Vietnam. At the close of the Vietnam War, the 34th Support Group was inactivated on November 30, 1972
On September 17, 1984, U.S. Army Garrison, Pusan, was inactivated and the 34th Support Group was reactivated in its place with the responsibilities for installation command, base operations and supply and service support to all units in Area VII.
On September 6, 1990, as part of a peninsula-wide reorganization of base operations, 34th Support Group was relocated from Pusan to Yongsan. The 34th Support Group assumed responsibility for installation and Area II command, installation operations, force protection, logistical support to all units in Area II, non-combatant evacuation operations and base defense.
As the headquarters for Yongsan Installation, 34th Support Group provides support to United Nations Command, Headquarters, United States Forces Korea, HQ, EUSA and ten Major Subordinate Command Headquarters at Yongsan. In addition, BASEOPS support is provided to 131 tenant units in Area II.
